Repetition leads to memorization, which is particularly beneficial for learning multiplication tables. From infancy, repetition is used as a key element for brain development, reminds The Urban Child Institute. Babies learn to talk by hearing words repeated to them over and over again. All through school, children use repetition while studying to retain information. Make your own set of flash cards using index cards or purchase flash cards from a bookstore or department store. Review the cards again and again with your child, each time making sure he recites the entire equation along with the answer. Eventually, time how long it takes to finish the cards and encourage him to try to beat his best time.
A handful of websites are geared toward helping kids sharpen math skills. Many use animation and create a game-like atmosphere, which makes math more exciting and enjoyable. Children might already know of some sites that they visit regularly on the computers at school. Teachers are also knowledgeable resources. Many school websites provide links to helpful math sites, such as oswego.org, kidport.com or aaamath.com. If your child's school subscribes to studyisland.com, use it throughout the year and while preparing for end-of-grade testing. This effective educational tool is used by nearly 23,000 Canadian and U.S. schools and can be accessed at school or at home through a login username and password.
At the grocery store, ask your child to fill a produce bag with a pound of green beans or other vegetable using estimation and the scale provided by the store. At home, let your child measure lengths of rooms or objects or a family member's height with a tape measure. Have your third-grader help you work in the concession stand during a sibling's sporting event. Help her add up the purchases and figure out how much change to give. If eating pizza, ask at various points during dinner what fraction of pizza is left or has been eaten. Real-life situations not only help improve math skills but also show children that math is all around us.
Parental involvement is important to a child's education. Look over your child's completed math homework. This gives you the opportunity to see where help is needed and to take the time to explain things in a way that might be easier to understand. Sometimes parents can provide more one-on-one time with their children than some teachers are able to give during class. Consider buying third-grade level math activity workbooks at bookstores or department stores, and go over them together. To strengthen money skills, play educational board games, such as Pay Day and Monopoly, and be responsible enough to intervene by hiring a math tutor when necessary.